2 Maccabees 6:18-31, Psalm 3:2-7, Luke 19:1-10
2 Maccabees 6:18-31
My Beloved, it is no wonder that the Church adorns her altars with Saints. Her liturgical calendar honors those who have lived holy lives, gave witness to their faith in all they said and many died heroically with joy, peace, dignity, calm with Your Name on their lips. Their hope was in You and their faith was rewarded and their legacy is eternal and incorruptible.
This beautiful incident of the old, venerable, holy man Eleazar who would rather die than set a bad example to the young who were watching him is truly commendable. A life of pretense although perhaps seen and known by none of the Jewish people was reprehensible to him. He was aware that one may fool men but no one can fool God.
Grant me my Beloved as well as Your Church men and women who will witness to our faith as Eleazar did with boldness and courage. May we die rather than compromise on the teachings of the Church as so many men and women in the annals of the history of our Church, Your Bride have done.
Psalm 3:2-7
My Beloved, You uphold those who cleave to You. Those who put their trust in You will never be dismayed or disappointed. You give wisdom to those who seek it with childlike hearts. You give hope where no reason for hope is evident. You are true to Your promises and those who honor You, obey You and are directed by Your commandments to love God and neighbor will find a home in You forever.
Luke 19:1-10
My Beloved, Zacchaeus was a man whose heart was in the right place but who mate several compromises with his conscience. He did not quite succeed though. He was considered a public sinner because of his obvious wealth which he amassed through very questionable means. He was rejected by all respectable Jews. He was scorned by men for both his spiritual and physical handicap since he was small man in stature.
His heart did not know peace despite his wealth because his conscience was not completely dead. He admired goodness when and where he saw it even though he believed he was too weak or it was too late for him to be honest himself.
He heard of You and was anxious to see You because he had heard of You and what he had heard stirred his imagination. He was full of admiration for You and to him, You were the epitome of all that he believed he could never be.
He set out to see You and by the end of that memorable day his life had changed forever. It changed so radically that it is recorded in the Gospels and we still speak of him to this day and will continue to do so until You come again.
Eleazar and Zacchaeus, two people so different in character are presented to us in the Liturgy today and we admire both. The venerable saint and the repentant sinner both found their reward, eternal life in You.
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